With the Celtics losing Al Horford and not having a lot of cap space to sign a big man, the narrative surrounding the team is that they don't have a lot of size...

But they have Tacko Fall, the tallest player in the league lol.

I think this bodes well for him remaining on the team after training camp, and potentially getting some playing time his rookie season. I wish him the best, and hope he finds success!

It's a long shot for most undrafted players to make a final roster their first year...heck, most won't even make their G-League team...but I'm glad Tacko is getting a shot with a good organization. Lots of international teams scout NBA summer leagues so when players are waived, some are picked up right away overseas (while others try to land on another NBA organization/G League team).

The NBA teams were stupid not to draft him at least in the later part of the 2nd round as a flyer. I think he will make it on some roster over the course of the year even if it isn't the Celtics. He has potentially elite level defensive impact and while he won't be able to play in every match up or big minutes there has to be a role for him in the NBA today if 35 year olds like Zaza, Bogut, and Gortat could start games last year IMO.

Tacko wasn't even the slowest center in the draft. He had a better shuttle run than Nic Claxton(#31 Pick 220lbs), Dedric Lawson, and Naz Reid and it's not like his sprints or other speed test were so far away either even if they were last despite being the heaviest guy. Having a 10'3 standing reach and his wingspan will make up for many speed issues as well.

(07-01-2019 10:16 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  It's a long shot for most undrafted players to make a final roster their first year...heck, most won't even make their G-League team...but I'm glad Tacko is getting a shot with a good organization. Lots of international teams scout NBA summer leagues so when players are waived, some are picked up right away overseas (while others try to land on another NBA organization/G League team).

Yea, I hear you. But I think their lack of depth at his position and his potential gives him a better chance to stick around than most.

(07-01-2019 10:45 AM)Nameless Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 10:16 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  It's a long shot for most undrafted players to make a final roster their first year...heck, most won't even make their G-League team...but I'm glad Tacko is getting a shot with a good organization. Lots of international teams scout NBA summer leagues so when players are waived, some are picked up right away overseas (while others try to land on another NBA organization/G League team).

Yea, I hear you. But I think their lack of depth at his position and his potential gives him a better chance to stick around than most.

There will sign some cheap centers after the music stops needing money. Brook Lopez and JaVale signed at the minimums last year for example.

That said having Tacko around isn't the worst thing in a potiental matchup with Embid and if Kawhi leaves Philly and Embid look like probably the team to beat and key player to defend in the east. I think he could do well in that match up for a few minutes here or there. At least as well as you could expect a rookie too.

Yinka Dare 2.0

(07-01-2019 11:16 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Yinka Dare 2.0

I'm not sure why people can't believe in this guy at all and that goes for GM's in the NBA as well. He clearly has an incredible defensive impact around the rim and he shot like 75% so it's not like he's hurting you by taking bad shots. He can have value never shooting and he basically dunks about everything around the basket he touches barely jumping which is gravity for your offense.

These two things alone have value even if he's just a niche play 10 minutes here or there on spot match ups. He's so unique of a player I just find it incredible no team picking in the bottom half of the 2nd round where most of those picks are garbage wouldn't have picked him. It's This is a dude that's unique and anchored the defense and most important aspect of a top 25 team and didn't look out of place vs Duke and Zion.

It's not like he was the guy at UNCA a decade ago, he had real accomplishments on a good team, vs good teams. He moves well to be his size as well and his wingspan is literally like a foot longer than Yao Mings's I believe.

(07-01-2019 11:16 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Yinka Dare 2.0

Tacko wishes he was in the 1994 draft like Dare....as the NBA back then was still where a big center could still be a dominate player.

DYK: Dare holds the NBA Career record for the most games played in a season (58) without ever registering an assist.

He ended his 4 year NBA career with 96 turnovers and just 4 career assists while he averaged just over 2.1 pts and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Fall is a stiff. He won't make it out of camp.

(07-01-2019 05:05 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Fall is a stiff. He won't make it out of camp.

Or he can go make a really good living in Europe. Heck, Nic Moore makes $300,000/year.

(07-01-2019 05:11 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 05:05 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Fall is a stiff. He won't make it out of camp.

Or he can go make a really good living in Europe. Heck, Nic Moore makes $300,000/year.

That is very possible. My stiff comment was relative to the NBA, not in general.

(07-01-2019 03:42 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 11:16 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Yinka Dare 2.0

Tacko wishes he was in the 1994 draft like Dare....as the NBA back then was still where a big center could still be a dominate player.

DYK: Dare holds the NBA Career record for the most games played in a season (58) without ever registering an assist.

He ended his 4 year NBA career with 96 turnovers and just 4 career assists while he averaged just over 2.1 pts and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Tacko averaged about 0.5 assists per game at UCF, so not quite at Dare level.

(07-01-2019 05:05 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Fall is a stiff. He won't make it out of camp.

summoning my inner Keith Easterwood...Fall couldn't play dead in a western.

(07-01-2019 03:42 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 11:16 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Yinka Dare 2.0

Tacko wishes he was in the 1994 draft like Dare....as the NBA back then was still where a big center could still be a dominate player.

That's kind of the myth. Certainly shooting being a premium has made it hard for certain players to play (being big and 5 fouls doesn't cut it) but honestly that's because the game is a lot more skilled today and there is no use for unskilled players if they aren't big time defenders, can strech, or rim rollers that dunk everything. You got to do one of those things really.

There are really just about as many big guys as ever doing big things, infact the center position is pretty stacked. It's just that most get it in different spots because it's been learned that back to the basket post ups and mid rang jump shots many centers 20-30 years ago are a pretty inefficient shot in basketball by comparison.

AD
Townes
Embid
Jokic
Vucevic
Cousins
Aldridge
Whiteside
Drumond
Gobert
Capela
D. Jordan
Gasol

are pretty big dominate in their on ways the last few years

Then you have 7 footers like Giannis and Durant that in another era where they didn't have he kind of coaching or skill development/freedom that would have probably been different kind of players.

I wouldn't overpay for a center because you can get a decent one for cheap that can do something but there are still places and value for I think Tacko since he can be a defensive force in certain matchups.

Heck if all he did was guard the inbounder in certain late clock situations that's probably enough to warrant a roster spot. You get like 17 roster spots now.

(07-01-2019 09:32 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 03:42 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 11:16 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Yinka Dare 2.0

Tacko wishes he was in the 1994 draft like Dare....as the NBA back then was still where a big center could still be a dominate player.

That's kind of the myth.

No...I was comparing him to Dare and other "back to the basket" Centers from the early 90's.

If you watched NBA Basketball back then vs now...you would know the role of the 5 has changed.

Tacko I dont think fits the new NBA model. A decade ago, maybe but he can still make a fine living in Europe. I was a child soccer star and my backup goalie ended up making over $300K a year playing in lower leagues in Italy and France. Tacko easily fits the euro model and some of their players are making upwards of a million a year.

He has also kept his citizenship and can play for Senegal in the Olympics. He would be one of the best players they have had in decades.

(07-02-2019 11:18 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  Tacko I dont think fits the new NBA model. A decade ago, maybe but he can still make a fine living in Europe. I was a child soccer star and my backup goalie ended up making over $300K a year playing in lower leagues in Italy and France. Tacko easily fits the euro model and some of their players are making upwards of a million a year.

He has also kept his citizenship and can play for Senegal in the Olympics. He would be one of the best players they have had in decades.

If Tacko has to play overseas, so be it. He speaks several languages, so just pick a country with a language he knows, I guess, LOL. NBA or not, I think he’ll make a lot of money playing basketball somewhere.

I understand a lot of the criticisms of Fall in here, just think it will be interesting to see if he can make the team, and if he does make it how effective he is.

The Kanter signing hurts his chances but I think he still has a shot. I believe his contract can be converted into a 2 way contract if I'm not mistaken.